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MONUMENT AND FIREPLACE 



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MORSE & GEHRELS 

BETHEL, CONNECTICUT 

1913 



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On the sitting of the Connecticut lyCgislature in January, 
1887, the following resolution was adopted : 

Resolved by this Assembly, that a committee consisting of one 
Senator and four Representatives be appointed to investigate and report 
at once on the practicability and desirability of obtaining foi- the State 
the old Israel Putnam Camp Grounds in the tow^n of Redding, on which 
traces of said encampment still exist, and the erecting thereon of a 
suitable monument or memorial. 

The resolution passed, and Senator Cole of Bethel, Messrs. 
Bartram of Sharon, Gorham of Redding, Wessells of lyitch- 
field, and Barbour of Branford, of the House, were appointed 
a committee to visit the grounds and report. Early in Feb- 
ruary this committee, accompanied b}" a number of interested 
members, proceeded to Redding. They were met at the station 
bj" a delegation of citizens of Redding and escorted to the winter 
quarters which they inspected. To this committee, by request, 
Mr. Charles B. Todd presented a plan for the lay out of the 
grounds, which we take from an article on the winter quarters 
in the New York Evening Post of that date, and which was 
widely copied by State papers : 

It is not proposed to erect a pleasure park, but a memorial. The men 
it is designed to commemorate were strong, rugged, simple. Its leading 
features, therefore, should be of similar character and of such an his- 
torical and antiquarian cast as to direct the thought to the men and 
times it commemorates. The rugged natural features in which the pro- 
posed site abounds should be retained. I would throw over the brooks 
arched stone bridges with stone parapets such as the troops marched 
over in their campaigns through the Hudson valley. The heaps of stone 
marking the limits of the encampment should be left undisturbed as one 
of the most interesting features of the place. One might be recon- 
structed and shown as it was while in use. A summer house on the 
crag guarding the entrance, might be reared in the form of an ancient 
block-house, like those in storming or defending, which Putnam and 



8 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

his rangers learned the art of war. Such a structure, at this day. would 
be an historical curiosity. I know of but two in the world — one on 
Sugar Island, at the mouth of the Detroit River, and another at Mack- 
inac Island, in the Straits of Mackinaw. For the monument I would 
suggest a cairn of stones from the neighboring limestone quarry, to be 
surmomited by a pyramidal monolith of gi-anite, ten feet high, each of 
its four faces bearing an inscription as follows : 

For the north face : 

On this spot, and on two others situated one and two miles to the 
westward, respectively, Gen. Putnam's division of the Continental Army 
encamped during the severe winter of 1T78-9, enduring untold priva- 
tions, in the belief that their sufferings would inure to the benefit and 
happiness of future millions. 

On the reverse : 

The Men of '7(5, 

Who Suffered Here. 

To preserve their memory so long as time endures, the State 

of Connecticut has acqviired these grovmds and 

erected this moniiment, A. D. 1887. 

On the east face the names of the division and brigade commanders : 
on the west an extract from Putnam's address, slightlj' changed: 

All the world is full of their praises, 
Posterity stands astonished at their deeds. 

This plan, modified as to details, has since been followed 
in the lay out of the Camp. The Special Committee, on Feb- 
ruary gth, submitted the following report : 

Your Committee * * * visited the site on February 3d, and 
found it to be a sloping hillside facing the east, diversified with crags 
and plateaus and forming the west wall of the valley of Little River, 
an affluent of the Saugatuck. The ground is two miles from Bethel, 
the nearest railroad station, and five from Danbury, at which point 
railroads from all parts of the State converge. A fine forest covers the 
greater part of the site : brooks flow through it falling in cascades over 
the crags, and the general situation is commanding and delightful. 

The heaps of stone marking the site of the log huts in which the 
brigades were quartered, are forty-five in number and are arranged 
opposite each other in long parallel rows defining an avenue some ten 
yards wide and five hiindred feet in length. These, with others scat- 
tered among the crags, admirably define the limits of the encampment, 
and form one of the best preserved and most interesting relics of the 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 9 

Revolution to be found in the State, if not in the Country. It was here 
that Putnam and his brigades wintered in 1778-9. 

The owner of the site, Aaron Treadwell, offers to donate so much 
land as the State shall decide to take for the pvirpose of preserving intact 
forever the old Camp Ground, and for erecting thereon a suitable 
memorial. Your Committee would recommend the acceptance of the 
offer of Aaron Treadwell as a gift to the State, and the appropriation 
of fifteen hundred dollars for the erection of a suitable memorial thereon. 
They also recommend the appointment of a committee of four by His 
Excellency, the Governor, to receive for the State a deed of said site, 
and for the laying out of the grounds and the erection of a memorial. 

A resolution, embodying these recommendations, was 
passed on April 21st. 

The committee appointed by Governor Lounsbury, in ac- 
cordance with the resolution, comprised Hons. Samuel B. 
Gorham of Redding, and Isaac N. Bartram of Sharon, Messrs. 
Charles B. Todd and Aaron Treadwell of Redding. This com- 
mittee caused to be erected during the summer of 1888 the 
present monument. It was apparent, however, that the tract 
of twelve acres which had been presented by Mr. Treadwell 
very inadequate!}' preserved the autonomy' of the former camp. 
The line of barracks originally extended through the adjoin- 
ing fields north nearly a quarter of a mile, and to bring the 
limits of the former winter quarters entirely within the control 
of the State, Mr. O. B. Jennings of Fairfield purchased the 
Read property on the north for five hundred dollars, and gen- 
eroush' donated it to the State. Later, in order that the entire 
winter quarters might be included in the park, Hon. I. N. 
Bartram purchased some twenty acres additional on the north 
and presented it to the State, to which the heirs of Mr. O. B. 
Jennings added the woodland on the northwest, so that the 
entire area of the Camp is now one hundred and two acres. 

The whole tract needed to be fenced and made accessible 
b}' means of roads, walks, etc. Messrs. Hull & Palmer, 
engineers, of Bridgeport, were accordingly employed by the 
committee to make a topographical survey and map, and pre- 
pare a plan or la}' out. This plan, with the engineers' esti- 
mate of cost, etc. , was submitted to the Connecticut Legislature 
of 1889, at an early date, and a Joint Select Committee of one 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP II 

senator and six representatives was raised to proceed to Red- 
ding, view the monument and grounds, and report. This 
committee, consisting of Senator Bartram of Sharon, Repre- 
sentatives Sharp of Pomfret, Miller of Redding, Day of Brook- 
lyn, Chichester of Wilton, Burlingame of Canterbury, and 
Sunderland of Danbury, visited the Camp early in February, 
18S9, and was again hospitably received and entertained by 
the citizens of Redding. It reported in favor of the whole 
amount called for in the engineers' estimate — $20,608.55, and 
an act appropriating this amount passed both Houses and was 
signed by Governor Bulkeley, June 19, 1889. A commission 
of seven persons, "to be appointed by the Governor," had 
previously been created, and had been authorized ' ' to accept 
on behalf of the State any gifts of real estate or money which 
might be offered to the State * * * and to take charge of 
the Camp Ground until August i, 1891, or until their succes- 
sors are appointed." Section 2 authorized the commission 
' ' to cause said Camp Ground to be fenced and otherwise suit- 
ably improved as they shall deem meet and proper, provided 
they do not exceed the amount of money that may be given, 
together with the amount appropriated by the State therefor, 
including pay for their own services." 

"Said commission to report in full their doings, and the 
amount by them expended to the next general assembly." 

Under the second act, Governor Bulkeley appointed the 
following gentlemen as Commissioners : Isaac N. Bartram of 
Sharon, Charles B. Todd of Redding, OHver B. Jennings 
of Fairfield, Clement A. Sharp of Pomfret, Gland H. Blan- 
chard of Hartford, Samuel S. Ambler of Bethel, and James E. 
Miller of Redding. 

The work of restoring the winter quarters and of laying 
out the grounds was begun by this commission in July, 1889, 
and practically completed in the autumn of 1890. 

The commission of 1889 held over until 1893. The follow- 
ing gentlemen have since held the office of Commissioner of 
the Park : 

From July 1, 1898. William A. Braun, Danbury. 



12 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

Fi-om June 7, 1893, Isaac N. Bartram, Sharon ; Aaron Sanford, New- 
town ; Burr Hawley, Monroe ; Henry A. Gilbert, Bethel : Charles San- 
ford, Redding, and John H. Ferris, Norwalk. 

For two years from July 1, 1895, Aaron Sanford, Newtown ; Henry 
A. Gilbert, Bethel : John H. Ferris, Norwalk : George G. Diirant, Bethel : 
L. Woolsey Randle, Redding : Henry Croftit, Danbury, and W. S. Wort- 
man, Bethel. 

For two years from July 1, 1897, John H. Ferris, Norwalk; W. S. 
Wortman, Bethel; Henry S. Osborn, Redding; George G. Durant, 
Bethel; John N. Woodruff, Sherman; William Wallacs Lee, Meriden. 
and Morris W. Seymour, Bridgeport. 

For two years from July 1, 1899, John H. Ferris, Norwalk ; George 
G. Durant, Bethel ; Henry Crof nt, Danbury ; John Todd, Redding : 
John H. Jennings, Westport, and Jonathan B. Sanford, Redding. 

For two years from July 1, 1901, John H. Ferris, Norwalk: George 
G. Durant, Bethel ; W. S. Wortman, Bethel ; Edward A. Houseman, 
Danbury ; John Todd, Redding ; John Henry Jennings, Westport, and 
Jonathan B. Sanford, Redding. 

For two years from July 1, 1903, Lyman D. Brewster. Danbury : 
Charles H. Freudenthal, Bethel ; George A. Parker, Hartford ; Gi'an- 
ville A. Durant, Bethel ; Edward A. Houseman, Danbiiry : William H. 
Hill, Redding, and John Henry Jennings, Westport. 

For two years from July 1, 1905, Charles H. Freudenthal, Bethel : 
George A. Parker, Hartford ; Granville A. Durant, Bethel : Edward 
A. Houseman, Danbury ; William H. Hill, Redding ; John H. Jennings. 
Westport, and William Ward, Naugatuck. 

For two ,years from July 1, 1907, Lyman D. Brewster, Danbury : 
Charles H. Freudenthal, Bethel ; George A. Parker, Hartford ; Gran- 
ville A. Durant, Bethel ; Edward A. Houseman, Danbury ; William H. 
Hill, Redding, and John H. Jennings, Westport. 

For two years from July 1, 1909. W^illiam H. Burr, Westport ; Charles 
E. Keith, Bridgeport ; William H. Hill, Redding : George A. Parker, 
Hartford ; I. N. Bartram, Sharon ; Eber A. Hodge. Danbury, and Charles 
W. Pickett, New Haven. 

For two years from July 1, 1911, Robert S. Alexander, Danbury; 
Mary G. H. Hill, Norwalk ; Henry A. Gilbert, Bethel : George A. Par- 
ker, Hartford ; John H. Reid, Bethel : Daniel Sanford. Redding, and 
Sue Phillips Tweedy, Danbury. 



I. 

®I|f Putnam IBitxtpr (f uartrra 



BEFORE beginning his tour of the Camp, the visitor will 
wish to know something of its history, for rojk and crag, 
tree, bush and brook possess additional interest when the gla- 
mour of heroism and patriocic self-sacrifice is thrown upon 
them. Our winter quarters possess this patriotic and historic 
interest. 

The autumn of 177S was one of the darkest hours of the 
Re\-olution. The army had accomplished almost nothing that 
summer. It had failed to hold the Jerseys, the Hudson. The 
enemy, entrenched in New York, was bold and aggressive, 
particularly so along the coast of Connecticut, toward which 
sturdy little state as the hotbed of rebellion he owed a spe:ial 
grudge. The Continental Army was unpaid, ill fed, half clad, 
but must be held together during the long, dreary winter 
approaching, that it might be in condition to take the field 
again when spring opened. The site for the winter canton- 
ment became an important question, and was long and anx- 
ioush- debated. Many of the general officers vrere for staying 
where they were in the Highlands. Putnam pronoun :ed in 
favor of some central location in western Connecticut where 
they could protect both the Sound and the Hudson, and 
especially Danbur}^ which was a supply station, and which 
had been taken and burnt by the enemy the 3'ear previous. 
General Heath's brigade had been on guard in Danbury during 
this summer of 1778, and while visiting him Putnam had no 
doubt discovered the three sheltered valleys formed by the 
Saugatuck and its tributaries which lie along the border line of 
what was then Danbury (now Bethel) and Redding.* These 

*Colonel Aaron Burr may have recoraraeiidod the site. He was aid-cie-oamp to 
Putnam at this time, and was thoroushly familiar with the country throuyh freiiuont 
visits to his uncle, Deacon Stephen Burr, wlio lived ar Keddin.u' Center in the tir>t hou~e 
nortli of the town house. 



14 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 



valleys open to the south, are warm, sunny, well watered, 
about equidistant — seventeen miles — from Stratford on the 
east and Norwalk oh the west, were well wooded in that day, 
and so defended by dominating hills and crags that a handful 
could hold them against an army. They were but three days' 
march from the Highlands. 

It was decided to quarter the army in Redding. Putnam 
and a corps of ' ' artificers ' ' preceding the main body by some 




LOG CABIN, SITE OF GUARD HOUSE, PUTNAM CAMP 



weeks, laid out three camps in the valleys mentioned, and had 
the log huts which were to shelter the soldiers well advanced 
ere the main body arrived. 

The form of the three camps was identical, all being laid 
out on a meridian line, with two, and in places, four rows of 
barracks placed parallel to each other. These barracks, like 
those at Valle}^ Forge, were built of logs, notched at the 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 1 5 

corners, and chinked with mortar, with a capacious stone 
chimney at one gable end. They were 12 feet wide by 16 long 
and accommodated twelve privates, or eight officers. Within 
were three or four bunks filled with straw, affixed to the sides, 
and the housekeeping equipment which the regulations of 
the State, and of Congress allowed the soldier. It appears 
by the "order book" of L,ieut. Samuel Richards, paymaster 
in Col. Wylly's Connecticut regiment, that the army began 
its march from Fredericksburg, in the Highlands, October 23, 
1778. The following extracts show the order of march : 

Headquarters, October 22, 1778. 

Nixon's, Parsons' and Huntington's Brigades are to marcli tomorrow 
morning at 7 o'clock from the line under the command of Major Gen- 
eral McDougal. 

Orders of March : 

General Nixon's Brigade leads, Huntington's follows. Parsons' 
brings up the rear. Commanding Officers of Corps will be answerable 
for the conduct of their men while on the march. Artillery to march 
in center of each brigade — the baggage of Genei-al Officers to march hi 
rear of the troops, the other baggage will march in the same ordei'. 
Forage and Commissary wagons in the rear of the whole. 

This detachment came down the Housatonic valley as 
appears b}^ the next order dated at New Milford, October 26. 
1778. 

His excellency, the Commander-in-chief, has directed the troops to 
remain here till further orders, and be in readiness to march at the 
shortest notice, as circumstances shall require. While the division is 
reposed, two days' bread will be on store continually baked. 

They remained there at least nine days as appears by the 
following curious order : 

New Milford, November 5, 1778. 

The honorable, the Continental Congress, having on the 12th of Octo- 
ber passed a resolution to discourage prophaneness in the army : It is 
inserted in this division for the information of officers, and General 
McDougall hopes for their aid and cormtenance in discouraging and 
suppressing a vice so dishonorable to human nature, to the commission 
of which there is no temptation enough. 



i6 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 



The Division was safely in camp by November 14th, how- 
ever, as appears by the following order dated Camp 2d Hill, 
November 14, 1778 : 

The General, having obtahied permission of the Commander-in- 
chief to be absent a few days from the division, the command will 
devolve iipon Brigadier-General Huntington. General McDongall is 
happy that it falls upon a gentleman in whose care for and attention to 
the troops he has the utmost confidence. The orders will be issued, as 
usual, at the Headquarters of the division. 




"OLD put's" hkadquarteks. umpawaug hill 

(l-roni an old i)rint. Tin- li()u>-o was lonjr a^o demolished. } 

This "2d Hill" was, without doubt, the middle camp on 
the side of the hill below the residence of the late Sherlock 
Todd. The general officers were quartered in the farmhouses 
in the vicinity of the Camps. Putnam on Umpawaug Hill. 
McDougall in a house then standing on the site nearly oppo- 
site the residence of the late Sherlock Todd. General Parsons 
on Redding Ridge, in the house of Lieut. Stephen Betts, and 
nearly opposite the residence of Squire Heron, a famous tory 
of that da v. 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 1 7 

Some facts regarding the strength, morale and organization 
of this army will be of interest in this connection. 

Col. Humphrey tells us that it was the whole right wing 
of the Continental Army, which had rendezvoused at White 
Plains that summer, thence marched to Fredericksburg, and 
thence to Redding, leaving detachments to garrison the 
Highlands. Major-General Israel Putnam was Commander- 
in-Chief; Major-General Alexander McDougall, Division 
Commander; Brigadier-General John Nixon, Commanding 
the first Continental brigade; Brigadier-General Jedediah 
Huntington, Commanding the second Continental brigade; 
Brigadier-General Samuel Parsons, Commanding the third 
Continental brigade; Brigadier-General Enoch Poor, Com- 
manding a brigade of the New Hampshire I^ine ; Colonel Moses 
Hazen, Commanding a corps of infantry, and General Sheldon, 
Commanding a corps of cavalry. It would be interesting to 
know precisely how many men were encamped here, but it is 
difficult to fix the exact number. Col. Humphrey says that 
in this summer of 1778 three armies were mobilized at White 
Plains, forming the right wing of the Grand Army ; that it 
contained sixty regiments of foot, in fifteen brigades; four 
batteries of artillery ; four regiments of horse, and several corps 
of State troops. Not all of this army came to Redding, as 
before remarked, but from the extent of the three camps, it is 
evident that a large portion of it was encamped here. 

Before telling how this great body was organized, officered 
and controlled, it will be proper to sketch briefly the Com- 
manders. With the history and exploits of General Putnam 
every schoolboy is familiar. The quaint old colonial house at 
Danvers, Mass., where he was born, is still standing. The 
incidents of the wolf den, of the powder magazine at Fort 
Edward, his gallantry at Bunker Hill and on many revolution- 
ary fields are twice-told tales and need not be recounted here. 
General Alexander McDougall, the second in command, 
was a native of Scotland, having been born in the Island of 
Islay in 1 73 1. He settled when quite young in New York 
city, and when the contest between England and the Colonies 
began espoused warmly the patriot cause. He was appointed 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 1 9 

June 30, 1776, Colonel of the first regiment raised for the war 
in New York city. From this time his promotion was rapid. 
He was made Brigadier General, August 9th of the same sum- 
mer; Major General, October 20, 1777, and with his command 
was in the Battle of White Plains, White Marsh, and German- 
town. He had been in command of the Highlands during 
this summer of 1778. In 1780 he was a delegate from New 
York to the Continental Congress. He died in New York, 
June 8, 1776. 

John Nixon, senior Commander of the Connecticut 
Brigades, was born in Philadelphia in 1733, his father being 
a well-to-do ship merchant there. He was port warden of 
Philadelphia in 1766. An ardent patriot he early opposed the 
tyranny of King George, and in 1776 was commissioned 
Colonel of a Philadelphia regiment to succeed John Cadwal- 
lader, who was made Brigadier-General. He served w^ith dis- 
tinction in the Battle of Princeton, and suffered with Wash- 
ington at Valley Forge. 

Jedediah Huntington was a native of Norwich, Connecticut, 
a merchant and graduate of Harvard College. He entered the 
army as Colonel at the beginning of the war, and gained the 
distinction of having served under every general officer in the 
Revolution except Stark. 

Samuel H. Parsons was born in Lyme, Connecticut, May 
14, 1737, and was the son of the distinguished clergyman, 
Rev. John Parsons. He was an able lawyer, and at the open- 
ing of the war was King's Attorney for New London County, 
which office he resigned to enter the patriot army. He orig- 
inated the design of seizing Ticonderoga ; was commissioned 
Colonel of the 6th Connecticut Regiment, April 26, 1775, and 
Brigadier-General in the Continental Army by Congress in 
August, 1776. He won the perfect confidence of Washing- 
ton, and there is evidence that he was employed on secret 
service to discover the designs of Sir Henry Clinton. During 
this winter through Squire Heron, an ostensible loyalist of 
Redding Ridge, he carried on a correspondence with Clinton, 
undoubtedly with the knowledge of Washington and Putnam ; 
Heron being to Clinton a bitter tory, but in reality a friend to 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 21 

the colonies. After the war General Parsons was a prominent 
figure in the settlement of Ohio. 

General Knoch Poor, Commander of the New Hampshire 
Line, was born in Andover, Massachusetts, June 21, 1736. 
After the battle of Ivcxington he raised three regiments in New 
Hampshire, and took command of one. Congress in Feb- 
ruary, 1777, commissioned him Brigadier General. He had 
served with honor in the campaign against Burgoyne the sum- 
mer previous, having led the attack at Saratoga, and had been 
present at the Battle of Monmouth in this summer of 1778. 
He died in Camp, near Hackensack, the year after leaving 
Redding, 1780, and was buried with military honors. 

Let us next consider the regiments encamped here and 
learn what we can of their formation, discipline, dress, accou- 
trements, and the routine of the life at the camp. Sheldon's 
and Hazen's corps seem to have been all the Continentals 
here, the rest being "state troops" of Connecticut and New 
Hampshire.* 

Both classes, state and continental, were, however, mod- 
eled largely on the plan of the old militia system of the 
Colonies, and had been largely recruited from that source. 
The militia system of Connecticut, just prior to the Revolu- 
tion, was one of the most perfect and effective ever devised. 

The blood}' French and Indian wars from 1745, down, had 
been her school and drillmaster. Let us study this S3'Stem 
briefly. It was organized in 1739, with the Governor as 
Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief. Thirteen reg- 
iments were formed at that time from the "train bands," the 
first militia unit, each commanded by a Colonel, Lieutenant- 
Colonel, and Major, who were commissioned by the Governor. 
A regiment might also include a troop of horse. There was 
an annual ' ' muster of arms ' ' on the first Monday of May, 
several "company" trainings a year, and a "regimental mus- 
ter" once in four years. In 1756 two "company reviews" 
were instituted to be held yearly on the ist of May and ist of 

*State troops were not regularly mu'^tered in, but were lent Washington by their 
respective states wlien a special danger threatened, or for a certain purpose. * They 
were usually under the orders of the Governor and Council of their states. 



22 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

October. In 1767 the Fourteenth Regiment was formed 
of Cornwall, Sharon, Salisbury, Canaan and Norfolk. In 1769 
the Fifteenth was formed of Farmington, Harwinton and New 
Hartford. In 1771 the Sixteenth, of Danbury, Ridgefield, 
Newtown and New Fairfield. In 1774 the Seventeenth, of 
lyitchfield, Goshen, Torrington and Winchester, and the Kight- 
eenth, of Simsbury, New Hartford, Hartland, Barkhamstead 
and Colebrook. In October, to meet the coming storm, four 
additional regiments were formed. The Nineteenth, from 
East Windsor, Enfield, Bolton and that part of Hartford 
east of Connecticut River. The Twentieth, from the military 
companies of Norwich. The Twenty-first, from Plainfield, 
Canton, Voluntown, and the South Company of Killingly ; 
and the Twenty-second, of Tolland, Somers, Stafford, Willing- 
ton and Union. In May, 1776, two more regiments were 
formed, one in Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania, then a 
part of Connecticut, and the other in Middletown and Chat- 
ham. Eater, in 1776, the Twenty-fifth was formed of East 
Haddam, Colchester and the Society of Marlborough, while 
the cavalry troops were organized into five regiments of light 
horse. So that, as the struggle opened, Connecticut had 
twenty-five regiments of foot and five of horse, armed, 
officered, and to some extent drilled, that could be called to her 
defence. All males between sixteen and fifty were liable to 
serve in these regiments. Not a few of the men were veterans 
seasoned in the French and Indian wars. The Assembly of 1 776 
mobilized this force into six brigades, appointed a Brigadier- 
General for each brigade, and two Major-Generals to command 
the whole. There were then 26,000 men in the colony capable 
of bearing arms. 1,000 of them beyond the Delaware. These 
men served in the Continental army in two ways — as enlisted 
men when they left the state service and were known as con- 
tinental or regular soldiers, and as militia ordered by the Gov- 
ernor or Assembly to some threatened point, when they were 
known as state troops. In August, 1776, for instance. Gov- 
ernor Trumbull ordered all the militia west of the Connecticut 
River — 14 regiments — to march to the defence of New York. 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 23 

The Continental service was modeled much after that of 
Connecticut. The main difference between the continental 
and the militiaman was that the former took an oath "to be 
true to the United States of America, and to serve them hon- 
estly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers, 
whatsoever, and to observe and obey all orders of the Con- 
tinental Congress, and the orders of the General and officers 
set over me by them," while the state troops swore fealty to 
their State only. Congress, July 18, 1775, provided that the 
company should comprise a captain, two lieutenants, an ensign, 
four sergeants, four corporals, a clerk, drummer, fifer and 
sixty-eight privates. Connecticut at its October session made 
the same provision, although before that time the State com- 
panies had consisted of one hundred men. 

The camp equipment of the militia, provided the full quota 
had been maintained, seems to have been sufficiently liberal. 
An order of 1775 enumerates, "go marquees or officers' tents, 
500 private tents, cloth for 48 tents, and for 500 tents, 1,092 
iron pots of lo quarts each — if not pots then tin kettles, 
1,098 pails, 2 brass kettles of 10 gallons each for each com- 
pany, 2,500 wooden bowls, 4 frying pans per company, 6,000 
quart runlets, 60 drums, 120 fifes, i standard for each regiment, 
a medicine chest and apparatus not to exceed ^40 in cost, a set 
of surgical instruments for the corps, 70 books in quarto of 
one quire each, 2 reams of writing paper, 10 of cartridge paper, 
I cart for each company, etc." 

The Continental soldier had to furnish himself with a good 
musket, carrying an ounce ball, a bayonet, steel ramrod, worm, 
priming wire and brush, cutting sword or tomahawk, cartridge 
box containing twenty-three rounds of cartridges, twelve flints 
and a knapsack. Each man was also to provide himself with 
one pound of good powder and four pounds of balls. The rations 
of the militia were also sufficiently liberal, provided they could 
have secured them — ^pound of pork, or i pound beef, i pound 
bread or flour, 3 pints beer Friday, beef fresh two days in the 
week, y^ pint rice or pint of meal, 6 ounces butter, 3 pints 
peas per week, a gill of rum per day when on fatigue, and no 
other time. Milk, molasses, candles, soap, vinegar, coffee, 



24 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

chocolate, sugar, tobacco, onions in season, and vegetables at 
the discretion of the field officers are mentioned. The pay of 
officers and men was as follows: Major-General, ^'20 per 
month; Brigadier-General, /17; Colonel, /;i5; Lieutenant- 
Colonel, ^12; Major, ^10; Chaplain, £6; Lieutenant, £\\ 
Ensign, /3; Adjutant, ^5, los. ; Quartermaster, ^3; Sur- 
geon, £-], IDS. ; Surgeon's mate, £^\ Sergeant, £2, 8s. ; Cor- 
poral, £2, 4s. ; fifer and drummer, £2, 4s. ; private, £2. If 
they found their own arms, ^10 for use of the latter. The 
musket prescribed by Connecticut must have a barrel 3 feet 
10 inches long, % inch bore, baj'onet blade 14 inches long, 
iron ramrod, good lock and stock well mounted with brass, 
and the name of the maker on it. is. 6d. was given each man 
who supplied himself with three pounds of balls, 3s. for a pound 
of powder, and 3d. for six flints ; otherwise they were supplied 
out of the Colon}^ stock. 

By November 14th, as remarked, the troops were all safeh' 
ensconced in winter quarters. A few days after, with a ter- 
rible northeast snowstorm, winter set in — one of the longest 
and severest ever known in this region. The mercury sank 
to its lowest level, and the snow was so deep that all surface 
landmarks were obliterated, and people traveled in their sledges 
at will without regard to highways or fences. The poor sol- 
diers, half clad, illy supplied with blankets, camp equipage, 
food and medicine, and housed in rude log huts, suffered ter- 
ribly. Tales of the destitution of those times are still current 
in the town, having been handed down from father to son. 

We have only the following account of the destitution at 
Putnam Camp from the diarists of the period, but from what 
has been recorded of other winter quarters, we infer that it 
was bitter in the extreme. Putnam wrote to Washington the 
spring before as follows : ' ' Dubois Regiment is unfit to be 
ordered on duty, there being not one blanket i^ the regiment. 
Very few have either a shoe or shirt, and m,Ci^X qf them have 
neither stockings, breeches nor overalls. Several comp^^^jjes 
of enlisted artificers are in the same situ^tioil ail4 unabl§ to 
work in the field." 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 25 

Daniel I^ivermore, Captain in the 3d New Hampshire Reg- 
iment of Poor's Brigade, was one who marched into the Camp 
in those December days. In his diarj- he recorded : 

Thursday, December 2. — This daj' the troops proceed on the 
march and go on to the ground laid out for hutting, which is in the 
vicinity of Danbury, towards Newtown. 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Decsmbsr 3, 4, 5. — These three 
days the troops are busy in clearing and fixing for laying the foundations 
of the huts. 

Monday, December 6. — This daj^ the huts go on rapidly, and in 
the evening the officers of the brigade attend at the Hon. Gen. Poor's 
quarters to wait on the Committee from New Hampshire. 

Tuesday, December 7. — This day I lay the foundation of my hut. 
twenty-two feet in length and twelve in width. 

Unfortunately Captain Livermore makes no further entry 
in his diary until April 6, 1780, when he begins anew with 
tliis entry : 

After spending a very disagreeable winter in the outskirts of Dan- 
})ury, bordering on Newtown, at a place called Wildcat, and going 
through many disagreeable scenes which circumstances have prevented 
ray keeping a minute of, this day Gen. Poor's Brigade leave their win- 
ter quarters and march for West Point on the North River.* 

Dr. Thatcher, in his diary kept at Valley Forge the winter 
before, adds this picture : 

Thousands are without blankets and keep themselves from freezing 
by standing all night over the camp fires. Their footprints on the 
frozen ground are marked in blood from their naked feet. For two or 
three weeks in succession the men were on half allowance, now without 
bread for four or five days, and again without beef or pork. A foreign 
visitor, walking through the camp, heard plaintive voices within the 
huts, saying, "no pay, no clothes, no provisions, no rum." and when- 
ever he saw a miserable being flitting from one hut to another, his 
nakedness was covered only by a dirty blanket. 

Washington, in his letters to Congress, also refers in affect- 
ing terms to the sad condition of the men in winter quarters. 

•From ' ' The Liverniore Fumily of America, ' ' by courte'iy of Arthur I.. Livermoro. 



26 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

At Ivcbanon and in Hartford, pit^dng, large-hearted Gov- 
ernor Trumbull was making the utmost effort to succor the 
distressed troops, in which he was heartih' seconded b}- the 
Connecticut Assembly. For instance, the latter body at its 
November session, 1776, enacted that the selectmen of each 
town should procure and hold in readiness for the soldiers, 
I tent, I iron pot, 2 wooden bowls and 3 canteens for each 
^1,000 of the grand list of said town ; and in January, 1778, 
it ordered that each town must provide i hunting shirt, 2 linen 
shirts, 2 pairs linen overalls, i pair stockings, 12 pairs good 
shoes, and one-half as man}^ blankets for the continental sol- 
diers. But the towns were so impoverished that, in many 
cases, they could not respond to the requisitions, and the 
soldiers suffered accordingly.* 

The pet grievance of the Connecticut troops, however, was 
the failure to pay them the wages due, so that not only they, but 
their wives and children at home were starving and distressed. 
Some of the troops had been paid in the depreciated colony bills 
of credit. Some had not been paid at all, simply because the 
treasury was empt3\ 

Toward mid-winter, after long brooding over their wrongs, 
two of the Connecticut brigades revolted, and formed ranks 
with the design of marching to Hartford and demanding redress 
from the I^egislature then assembled there. Putnam, whose 
headquarters were on the west side of the town, two miles 
away, heard of the affair, and throwing himself on his horse, 
rushed to the front of his disaffected brigades, and with flashing- 
eyes and animated voice thus addressed them : 

My brave lads, whither are you going ? Do you intend to desert 
your officers, and to invite the enemy to follow you into the country ? 
Whose cause have you been fighting and suffering so long in^is it not 
your own ? Have you no property, no parents, wives, or children ? You 
have behaved like men so far — all the world is full of your praises, and 
posterity will stand astonished at your deeds ! but not if you spoil all at 
last. Consider how much the country is distressed by the war, and that 

*In 1778 the town of Redding petitioned tlie Legislature for relief. ' ' Forty-nine 
of her citizens, ' ' says the petition, ' ' have gone to the enemy ; six are dead or prison- 
ers ; nine are in the corps of artificers ; twenty-eight men are in the Continental Army, 
and one hundred and twelve in the train bands, ' ' leaving scarcely none to man the 
farms and produce money or supplies to meet the requisitions. 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 27 

your officers have been no better paid than yol^rselves. But we all 
expect better times, and that the country will do us ample justice. Let 
us all stand by one another then, and fight it out like brave soldiers. 
Think what a shame it would be for Connecticut men to run away from 
their officers. 

With the last word he ordered the acting major of brigades 
to give the command to shoulder arms, march to the regimental 
parade grounds and stack arms — the command being obeyed 
almost automatically by the brigades. This ended the revolt. 
No one was punished except the ringleader of the affair, who 
was confined in the guardhouse, and was shot and killed by 
the sentinel on duty in the act of escaping. 

Court-martials were of frequent occurrence. One of the 
earliest acts of the Connecticut Assembly was to prescribe pen- 
alties for ever}^ imaginable offence, and Congress at one of its 
first sittings followed its example. In all cases trial for these 
offences was by court-martial. Willfully absenting himself 
from divine service or behaving irreverently or indecentl)^ in 
church, swearing, exciting mutiny or sedition, drawing a sword 
on an officer, fighting a duel, or laughing at another for refus- 
ing to fight, drunkenness, desertion, sleeping on post, giving 
the countersign unlawfully, wasting or selling ammunition, 
giving a false alarm, were among the offences forbidden by the 
Colony. The regulations adopted by Congress, September 20, 
1776, embodied all these and more. Soldiers were punished 
for uttering provoking or reproachful speeches, for being found 
one mile from camp, and for sleeping out of the quarters. 
They were to retire to their quarters or tents at the beating 
of the "retreat" at sunset, and must report for "parade" at 
the hour and not go off until discharged. They were also 
amenable to the civil authorities. In the order book of Pay- 
master Richards are two entries which show the wide range 
taken by these courts-martial. Petty offences, we may premise, 
were tried by a "regimental or brigade court-martial," com- 
posed of from three to five field officers, more serious offences 
by a "general court-martial," composed of thirteen commis- 
sioned officers, the President of which "must not be Com- 
mander-in-chief. ' ' 



^MMetwVjrt??ftgaPsewri 




PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 29 

The trials referred to were as follows : 

Daniel Vaughn and Jonathan Gore, of the 8th Connecticut reg- 
iment, tried by a Brigade Court Martial, whereof Lieutenant-Colonel 
Samner was President, for stealing a cup from Captain Zalmon Read, 
of Reading. The court are of the opinion the charges against Vaughn 
and Gore are not supported. 

The second, February 4, 1779: 

Was tried at a General Court Martial, Edward Jones, for going to 
and serving the enemy and coming out as a spy, found guilty of each 
and every charge exhibited against him, and, according to law and the 
usages of nations, was sentenced to suffer death. 

February' 6, 1779 : 

At a General Court Martial, was tried John Smith, of the 1st Con- 
tinental regiment, for desertion and attempting to go to the enemy, 
found guilty, and further persisting in saying that he will go to the 
enemy if ever he has opportunity, sentenced to be shot to death. 

The last two were so tragic in their results, and so dramatic 
in execution, that we may be pardoned for noticing them some- 
what at length. 

Both trials, tradition says, were held in West Redding, 
near the General's headquarters. From old diaries, records, 
and the regulations of Congress, one can reproduce, with some 
degree of exactness, the form and even the minutiae of their 
proceedings. 

The President was an officer of high rank, as was also the 
prosecuting officer, who was detailed for this service by the 
Judge- Advocate General. The twelve other members all bore 
commissions from Congress. 

The President, having declared the Court open, the pros- 
ecuting officer admininistered the following "juror's oath : " 

You shall well and truly try and determine the matter before you 
between the United States of America and the pi-isoner to be tried, so 
help you God. 

And then each, individually, took this special and solemn 
oath : 



30 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

Yoii. A. B. , do swear, that j^ou will duly administer justice accord- 
ing to the rules and articles for the better government of the United 
States of America, without partiality, favor or affection, and if any 
doubt shall arise, which is not explained by the said articles according 
to your conscience, the best of your understanding and the customs of 
war in like cases ; and you do further swear, that you will not divulge 
the sentence of the Court until it shall be approved of by the General 
or Commander-in-Chief. Neither will you, upon any account, at any 
time, whatsoever, disclose or discover the vote or opinion of anj' par- 
ticular member of this Court-martial, unless requested to give evidence 
thereof as a witness by a court of justice in due course of law, so help 
you God. 

To the prosecutor was administered this oath : 

You, A. B. , do swear that you will not upon any account, at any 
time, whatsoever, disclose or discover the vote or opinion of any par- 
ticular member of this court, unless required to give evidence thereof 
as a witness by a court of justice in due course of law, so help you God. 

These formalities over, the prisoner was brought in by the 
Provost Marshal's guard, which had had him in charge since 
his arrest, and confronted with the witnesses against him. 
The latter before testifying took the following oath : 

You, A. B.. do swear that the evidence you shall give in the case 
now in hearing, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but 
the tnith, so helji you God ? 

The prisoner, Jones, was a Welshman, a loyalist, a resident 
of Ridgefield, who had gone over to the British, and had acted 
as butcher and purveyor of beef cattle for the enemy. The 
testimony of his captors proved that he was taken in Ridge- 
field within the Continental lines. The prisoner's defence was 
that he had been sent into Westchester County to buy cattle 
for the British army, and had strayed over the line. But this 
had little weight with his judges. In their eyes, he was guilty 
of two most heinous offences — going ever to the enem}', and 
returning back within the lines as a spy ; either, under the law 
of nations, being a capital offense. He was, therefore, con- 
demned to death. Before the sentence could be carried out, 
however, it must be approved by the General in command. 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 3 1 

Putnam did not hesitate to approve it and endorsed on the 
paper : 

The General approves the sentence, and orders it to be pat in ex- 
ecution between the hours of ten and eleven a. m., by hanging him by 
the neck till he be dead. 

On the sentence of the deserter, John Smith, he likewise 
endorsed : 

Sentenced to be shot to death, and orders that it be put in execution 
between the hours of ten and twelve a. m. 

General Putnam having two prisoners to execute, deter- 
mined to make the scene as terrible and impressive as the 
circumstances demanded. The lofty hill dominating the valley 
and the camp (still bearing the ominous name, Gallows Hill) 
was chosen for the place of execution, the inscrument of death 
being erected on its highest pinnacle. On the da}^ appointed, 
the entire army was marched with solemn roll of the drum 
upon the heights and massed in the open fields around the 
gallows. The entire countryside also flocked to view the 
spectacle. 

The scene at the execution, says Barber in his Historical 
Collections, is described as bloody and shocking. The men 
on whom the duty of hanging devolved left the camp on the 
day of the execution and could not be found. A couple of 
boys, about twelve years of age, were ordered by General 
Putnam to perform the duties of hanging. The gallows was 
about twenty feet from the ground. Jones was compelled to 
ascend a ladder and the rope about his neck was attached to 
a crossbeam. General Putnam then ordered Jones to jump 
from the ladder. 

"No, General Putnam," said Jones, "I am innocent of the 
crime laid to me. I shall not do it." 

Putnam then ordered the boys to turn the ladder over. 
The boys were affected by the trying scene. They cried and 
sobbed and entreated to be excused from doing anything on 
this distressing occasion. Putnam, drawing his sword, ordered 
them forward and compelled them at the sword point to obe>' 



32 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

his orders. The soldier shot for desertion was a youth about 
sixteen or seventeen years of age. Three bullets passed 
through his breast and he fell on his face, but immediately 
turned over on his back. A soldier then advanced, and put- 
ting the muzzle of his gun near the convulsive bod}- of the 
youth, discharged its contents into his forehead. The body 
was then taken up and put into a coffin. The soldiers had fired 
their pieces so near that they set the boy's clothing on fire, and 
it continued burning. 

From the testimony of several persons who were present, 
however, it would seem that Mr. Barber was misinformed and 
that no such scenes took place. Mr. James Olmstead of Red- 
ding, who died in 1882, aged eighty-nine years, and whose 
father was an officer in the continental armj^ and present on 
the occasion, gives an entirely different version. In an article 
published in the Danbury News he says : 

' ' My father * * * being an officer himself and well known to 
some of the officers on duty, was one of the few who were admitted 
within the enclosure formed by the troops around the place of execution 
and able to witness all that there took place. After prayer bj' the Rev. 
Mr. Bartlett, the younger prisoner, Smith, was first brought forward 
to his doom. After he had been placed in position and his death war- 
rant read, a file of soldiers was drawn up in line with loaded muskets, 
and the word of command given. The firing was simultaneous, and he 
fell dead on the spot. After the smoke had cleared away it was found 
that his outer garment, a sort of frock or blouse, had been set on fire 
by the discharge, and which was extinguished by a soldier who had 
fired. He was within a few feet of the scaffold when Jones, pale and 
haggard, was next brought on, his death warrant was read and he 
seemed to recognize some few of his old friends, but said very little 
except to bid farewell to all. His last words were, 'God knows I'm 
not guilty, ' and he was hurried into eternity. 

' ' My father had a pretty good general knowledge of General Putnam 
and his eccentricities, and had there been any unnecessary hardships or 
severity used in the treatment of the prisoners, he most certainly must 
have seen and known something of it, but in all I ever heard from him 
or any one else, no allusion was made to anything of the kind, and in 
view of all the circumstances I think it may be safe to infer that no such 
thing occurred on that occasion." 

Before describing the final breaking up, let us look in upon 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 33 

the camps, and spend a day there with the soldiers. At sun- 
rise, reveille calls them from their beds. After their frugal 
breakfast, at ten o'clock comes ' ' parade, " or as we would term 
it, " guard mount." 

The continental soldier, when presentable, made no doubt 
a gallant show in his uniform of blue and buff, with bayonets 
glistening and silken standards waving.* 

Once every two months the rules and regulations of Con- 
gress were read to the men on parade, and there was often 
some general orders or felicitation of the Commander on some 
event of interest communicated at the same time. The sutler's 
tents were open until the "retreat " was beaten at sunset, and 
which sent every soldier to his quarters. Telling stories and 
singing patriotic songs were almost the only evening amuse- 
ments of the soldiers. There were two talented young poets 
in the camp at this time, whose stirring lyrics sung around the 
camp fires were v/ell calculated to cheer and animate the soldier, 
and lead him to forget, or endure with cheerfulness his priva- 
tions. These two poets were Col. David Humphrey, aide-de- 
camp to General Putnam, and Joel Barlow, who had just 
graduated at Yale College, where he had distinguished himself 
by his patriotic commencement poem, "The Prospect of 
Peace." Barlow was a native of Redding, and his brother, 
Col. Aaron Barlow, was a meritorious officer in the continental 
service, and the personal friend of Putnam. Both poets later 
rose to eminence, Humphrey becoming aide-de-camp to, and 
later the friend and companion of Washington ; Barlow, after 
filling various offices, died in Poland in 18 12, while our Min- 
ister to France. 

On Sunday all the troops presentable were formed in 
column and marched to the Congregational Church at Redding 
Center, where they listened to the sermons of the eloquent and 
patriotic Parson Bartlett, pastor of that church. 

There were also chaplains of their own in camp, one of 
them being Abraham Baldwin of New Haven, who later drafted 

*The standard of the First Connecticut Regiment was yellow ; of the Second, blue ■ 
of the Third, scarlet; of the Fourth, crimson; of the Fifth, white; of the Sixth, azure.' 



34 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

the Constitution, and became a Senator of the United States 
from Georgia. 

One of the recreations of the officers was in practising the 
rites and amenif.es of Free Masonry. While the army lay at 
Redding, American Union Lodge, which followed the fortunes 
of the army, was organized " on application of a number of 
gentlemen, brethren of the Ancient and Honorable Society 
of Free and Accepted Masons." 

Agreeable to the application a summons was issued desiring 
the members to meet "at Widow Sanford's, near Redding Old 
Meeting House, on Monday 15th inst. (February, 1779), at 
4 o'clock past M." At this meeting General Parsons was 
elected Master. Records of several meetings of the IvOdge at 
"Redding viz. Mrs. Sanford's" follow. On March 25th the 
Lodge gave a state dinner which is thus described : 

Procession began at half -past 4 o'clock, in the following order : 

Brother Whitney to clear the way. 

The Wardens with their wands. 

The youngest brother with the bag. 

Brethren by juniority. 

The Worshipful Master with the Treasurer on his right hand sup- 
porting the sword of justice, and the Secretary on his left hand support- 
ing the bible, square and compass. 

Music playing the Entered Apprentice March. 

Proceeded to Esq. Hawley's where Brother Little delivered a few 
sentiments on friendship. The Rev. Dr. Evans and a number of gentle- 
men and ladies being present. 

After dinner the following .songs and toasts were given, 
interspersed with music, for the entertainment of the company : 

Songs: Hail America;* Montgomery; French Ladies' Lament; 
Mason's Daughter ; On, On, My Dear Brethren ; Huntsmen ; My Dog 
and Gun. 



*Thesong, Hail America, was the most popular in the army. We give it entire. 
It was sung to the tune of the British Greiiadier. 

That seat of science, Athens, 

And eartli' s great Mistress, Rome, 
Where now are all their glories ? 

We scarce can find the tomb. 
Then guard your rights, Americans, 

Nor stoop to lawless sway. 
Oppose, opi)ose, oppose, oppose, 

My brave America. 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 35 

Toasts: General Washington; The Memory of Warren; Mont- 
gomery and Wooster; Relief of the Widows and Orphans; Ladies 
of America ; Union, Harmony and Peace ; Social Enjoyment ; Con- 
tentment. 

Music: Grand March; Dead March; Country Jig; Mason's 
Daughter. 

The festivities were concluded with a speech by Rev. Waldo. 
At half-past 7 o'clock the procession began returning to the 
lodge room in reverse order from the afternoon procession, 
music playing the Mason's Daughter. 

On April 7th they dined at 3 o'clock, going in procession 

Proud Albion' s bound to Caesar 

And numerous lords before, 
To Picts, to Danes, to Normans, 

And many Masters more. 
But we can boast, Americans, 

We never fell a prey. 
Huzza, Huzza, Huzza, Huzza, 

For brave America. 

We led fair freedom hither 

And lo, the desert smiled, 
A Paradise of pleasure 

Was opened in the wild. 
Your harvest, bold Americans, 

No power shall .snatch away. 
Assert yourselves, yourselves. 

Ye sons of brave America. 

Torn from a world of tyrants. 

Beneath the western sky 
We formed a new dominion, 

A land of Liberty. 
The world shall own its Masters here. 

The heroes of the day. 
Huzza, Huzza, Huzza, Iluzza, 

For brave America. 

God bless this maiden climate. 

And through her vast domain 
Let hosts of heroes cluster. 

Who scorn to wear a chain. 
And blast the venal sycophants 

Who dare our rights betray, 
Pieserve, Preserve, Preserve, Preserve, 

Our brave America. 

Lift up your heads, my heroes, 

And swear with proud disdain. 
The wretch who would enslave you 

Shall spread his snares in vain. 
Should Europe empty all her force. 

We' d meet them ill array, 
And shout and shout, and fight and tight, 

For brave America. 

Some future day shall crown us 

The masters of the main, 
And giving laws and freedom 

To England, France and Spain. 
When all the isles o' er ocean spread, 

Shall tremble and obey 
Their Lords, their Lords, their Lords, 

The Lords of brave America. 



36 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

as before, and dining together "with a number of respectable 
inhabitants, gentlemen and ladies ; the Rev. Dr. Evans deliv- 
ered a discourse suitable to the occasion ; after dinner there 
were the usual songs and toasts, and at six o'clock the pro- 
cession returned to the lodge room. Thanks were presented 
to the Rev. Dr. Evans for his discourse, and to Rev. Mr. Bart- 
lett and the other gentlemen and ladies who favored the lodge 
with their company at dinner." 

Bro. Belden's bill for the "two feasts" is given: 

£ s d 

For Thursday, March 25 45 3 

Wednesday, April 7 81 14 11 

Bro. Sill's bill, April T 19 14 

Bro. Little's bill, March 25 1 11 

Bro. Little's bill, April 7 4 16 

152 16 2 

The last meeting was held in Redding, April i6th, 1779, 
the Connecticut line having about that time marched to the 
Highlands for the summer campaign. 

Thus the winter wore slowly away. Toward the end of 
March the camp was astir with the bustle of preparation. Arms 
were burnished, uniforms cleaned, patched and made as pre- 
sentable as possible, bullets molded and cartridge boxes filled. 

On March 21st the following general order was issued: 

Headquarters, Redding, March 21st, 1779. 
Col. Hazen's Regiment will march to Springfield in three divisions 
by the shortest notice. The first division will march on Monday next, 
and the other two will follow on Thursday and Friday next, weather 
permitting, and in case the detached parties join the regiment. Col. 
Hazen will take with him one piece of cannon and a proportionable 
number of artillerymen. 

On April nth the following was issued: 

The officers are requested to lose no time in preparing for the field 
that they may be ready to leave their present quarters at the shortest 
notice. The Quatermaster General, as far as it is in his power, will 
sujoply those with portmanteaus who have not been furnished before, 
and those who have, or shall be provided, are on no account to carry 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 37 

chests or boxes into the field. The portmanteaus are given by the 
public to supersede those of such cumbersome articles in order to con- 
tract the baggage of the Army and lessen the number of wagons, which 
besides saving the expense, is attended with many obvious and most 
important military advantages. 

The General also thinks it necessary to give explicit notice in time, 
with a view to leave the Army as little encumbered as possible in all 
its movements, and to prevent burthening the public and the farmers 
more than can be avoided. No officer whose duty does not really require 
him to be on horseback will be permitted to keep horses with the 
Army — it ought to be the pride of an officer to share the fatigues as 
well as the dangers to which his men are exposed on foot. Marching 
by their sides he will lessen every inconvenience and excite in them a 
spirit of patience and perseverance. Inability alone can justify a devi- 
ation from this necessary practice. General Washington strongly 
recommends to the officers to divest themselves as much as possible 
of everything superfluous, taking to the field only what is essential for 
dining and comfort. Such as have not particular friends within reach 
with whom they would choose to confide their baggage will apply to 
the Quartermaster General, who will appoint a place for their reception 
and furnish means of transportation. 

On May 24th General Parsons ordered his brigade "to be 
ready to march to-morrow, at 6 o'clock a. m., complete for 
action." Three days later, Putnam issued his farewell address, 
as follows : 

Major-General Putnam, being about to take command of one of the 
wings of the Grand Army, before he leaves the troops who have served 
under him the winter past, thinks it his duty to signify to them his 
entire approbation of their regular and soldier-like conduct, and wishes 
them, wherever they may be out, a successfvil and glorious campaign. 

The main body returned to the Highlands via Ridgefield, 
Bedford and Fishkill, as we find from orders dated at those 
places ; by the first of June we may suppose the camp to have 
been entirely deserted. 



II. 
A ®nur flf % (Srflunbs 



The main entrance to the grounds is from the old Sherman 
turnpike at their extreme southern limit. The visitor crosses 
first the arched stone bridge, patterned after those in the Hud- 
son valley, over which the continentals marched and fought. 
The two blockhouses within form the portals, and are fac- 
similes of one still standing on Sugar Island, at the mouth of 
the Detroit River, with the exception that the pier or lower 
story of that is of logs instead of stone. The piers are ten feet 
square and nine feet high ; the houses twelve feet square and 
seven feet high, projecting over the piers two feet all round ; 
this projection was pierced by loop holes and allowed the 
defenders to fire down upon an enemy lurking below. These 
blockhouses were a favorite arm of defence in the French and 
Indian wars, and during the winning of the West. Some 
colonial houses even were built in this manner, notably the 
old Avery house in Groton, in eastern Connecticut. The row 
of palisades (Dutch palisadoes) connecting the blockhouses 
with the cliffs, was often used, in conjunction with the block- 
house, to defend a fort or threatened position. 

Passing between the two jaws of the cliff, over Highland 
brook and across Putnam avenue, we come to the row of ruins 
whose stones formed the chimneys of the former barracks. 
The bank above the brook was the southern or lowermost 
extremity of the line. 

Leaving it for the moment, let us examine the monument, 
which crowns a bold crag rising some fifteen above the plateau 
on which the barracks were placed. 

It is an obelisk of native granite ten feet square at the base, 
forty-two feet in height and crowned by a ball two feet and 
a half in diameter. The shaft is of rock-face ashlar, quarried 
of a boulder that occupied the site of the present monument. 



40 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

The polished plinths or dies which bear the inscriptions are 
of Ridgefield, Conn., granite, and are five feet square, weigh- 
ing about two tons each. 

The inscriptions are as follows : 

On the front or west face : 

Erected 

To Commemorate 

The \Yinter Quarters 

of Putnam's Division 

of the Continental Army. 

November 7, 1778. 

May 25, 1779. 

On the reverse or east : 

The Men of '76 

who suffered here. 

To preserve forever their 

Memory, 

The State of Connecticut 

has erected this monument. 

A. D. 1888. 

On the north, a sentiment slightly altered from Putnam's stirring 
address : 

The World 

is full of their praises. 

Posterity 

stands astonished at their 

deeds. 

On the south the names of the principal commanders : 

Putnam, 

McDougal, 

Poor, 

Parsons, 

Hvmtington. 

The monument was designed by Mr. John Ward Stimson, 
then principal of the art school of the Metropolitan Museum, 
of New York City. The inscription was written by Mr. Charles 
B. Todd. The working drawings were bj^ Architect Walter 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 



41 



R. Briggs of Bridgeport. T.he contractor was Philo W. Bates 
of Norvvalk. The cost of the monument was eighteen hun- 
dred dollars. 

If we follow Sheldon avenue past the lake and brook to the 
hilltop we shall find on the summit two mounds, supposed sol- 
dier's graves. A few yards further north are massive boulders, 
from which fine views of the grounds may be had. Continuing 
north we soon reach a fork in the avenue caused by Overlook 





■d«&£-:3.^&^m^- M^m^mmg^^jijmAmi 



PHILLIPS' CAVE 

road leaving it on the left. This road forms one of the love- 
liest drives in the park. From it wide views of Little River 
valley, and of the opposite ridge, may be had. At its northern 
extremity it skirts the verge of the ledge known as Phillips' 
Rocks. The boulders on the face and at the foot of this ledge 
are impressive from their massiveness. Near its northern end 
is the entrance to Phillips' Cave, which has a creep}^ legend 
associated with it. After the revolution — the story goes — an 



42 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

old soldier named Phillips, who had encamped here in 1778-9, 
drifted back to his former haunts, and took up his abode in this 
cave, living by chance alms and by levying contributions on 
the bins and poultry yards of the neighboring farmers. The 
latter bore with his depredations until forbearance ceased to be 
a virtue, and then a few of the more reckless lay in wait for 
him and shot him as he issued from his cave. 

The small plateau just north of the cave was the northern 
end of the encampment. Here is a very interesting ruin — an 
old cellar evidenth- of a magazine or storehouse. Old men 
remember when the line of chimneys extended thr.ough this 
plateau, and they should be restored as they formerl}^ existed. 
From this point we may follow the line of barracks south to 
their end at the monument, a distance of a quarter of a mile. 
Putnam avenue runs beside them the entire distance. The 
first object of interest as we go south is one of the old log 
barracks restored — it will be seen on the right, under Phillips' 
Rocks. A footpath here leads up the hill to the Overlook road, 
passing a circular ruin on the right, the former bakehouse. 

Just bej'ond the barracks we enter the old revolutionary 
orchard — one of the most interesting features of the camp. 
The apple trees here were set out in the deserted fireplaces tlie 
summer the Army left, and are, therefore (November, 191 2), 
one hundred and thirty-three years old. In the lev^el field south 
the stone chimneys were carted away within the memory of 
men now living, and harvests of corn, potatoes, rye and flax 
were raised on the site formerly devoted to Mars. About mid- 
way of the field one of the old fireplaces may be seen, in which 
were found ashes, bones and coals, quite well preserved. Fine 
views of the monument may be had from this approach. 

If, from this orchard, we follow the curve of Putnam avenue 
east, we shall cross Cowslip brook by a substantial stone bridge, 
and a few yards beyond pass out between the miniature block- 
houses of the north entrance on to the Sherman turnpike, which 
affords an interesting and picturesque drive of two miles to 
Bethel. 

If, instead of crossing the arched bridge near the north 



PUTNAM MEMORIAI, CAMP 



43 



entrance, we turn to the right and follow the terrace road, it 
will lead us around by a wild and rock}' glen and thence to the 
summit of Prospect Hill, where another extensive view may be 
had. The road winds down the hill from the summit and across 
the rock}' run to rejoin Putnam avenue. We will now return 
to the main entrance by the latier avenue. On the right, as 
we advance, are three of the fireplaces restored as they orig- 




NOKTH EN'TRANCE, PUTNAM CAMP 



inally existed. There are two more farther down under the 
monument. 

One may enter the blockhouses, if he desires, by an iron 
stairway and trapdoor. The ccol dim glens on either side the 
blockhouses will be found delightful retreats. Many relics of 
the camp have baen gathered, and it is proposed to erect for 
their custody a cottage fashioned after the old Dutch farmhouse 
which served as Washington's headquarters at Newburgh, New 
York, in the winter of 1782-3. 



44 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

An enumeration of some of the relics may prove of interest : 

Beginning at the door and turning wast as one enters — 

Ancient Knocker, donated by Henrj' Adams. 

Engraving. "Washington Crossing the Delaware,"' donated by Mrs. 

D. H. Cottrell. 
Winnowing Fan, donated by Isaac H. Wilson. 
Old Bread Tray, from Cotton Mather Smith's house, Sharon, donated 

by Isaac N. Bartram. 
Centennial Flags, donated by I. H. Wilson. 
Indian Bow and Arrow, donated by I. H. Wilson. 
Hoe used by Abijah Maxim, a friend and comi^anion of Ethan Allen. 

during the Revolution, donated b.v I. N. Bartram. 
Door Handle on house of iVbijah ^laxim. He would not listen to a S3r- 

mon by his minister, an Englishman, his reason being, " I don't like 

the British. " Donated by I. N. Bartram. 
Portrait of Gen. Israel Putnam, donated by I. N. Bai'tram. 
Old Qaill Wheel, donated by Thomas S. Taylor. 
Spinning Wheel, donated by T. S. Taj'lor. 
Portrait of Hon. Isaac N. Bartram, under whose superintendence the 

gi'ounds were laid out. 
Engi-aving of Old Put Leaving the Field on receiving news of Lexing- 
ton, donated by Isaac H. Wilson. 
Swift, used by Reed family, near Plymouth, Mass., lOoO, donated by 

I. N. Bartram. 
Book of Sermons printed 1688, donated by Robert W. Fry. 

OLD MUSKETS ON WALL BEGINNING AT THE TOP. 

Flintlock Gun, donated by Fred Porter. 

Flintlock Gun, donated by Miss Susie Gregory. 

Flintlock Gun, donated by Miss Susie Gregory. 

Sharpe Rifle, donated by Mrs. Levi Drew. 

Old Flintlock, donated by Charles A. Barber. 

Gun found on these gi'ounds in the Revolution, donated by Wakeman 

Bradley. 
Flintlock, donated by Walter Edmonds. 
Musket used by David Cottrell in the Revolution, donated by I. N. 

Bartram. 
Flintlock Musket, donated by L. S. Sherman. 
Musket, loaned by Thomas Delaney. 
Musket, donated by Henry Adams. 
Musket, donated by I. N. Bartram. 

Pair of Holsters and Flintlock Pistols, donated by Col. S. Gregory. 
Cradle from Cotton jSIather Smith house, used about 1740, donated by 

I. N. Bartram. 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 45 

IN THE CASE BEGINNING AT THE WEST END, TOP SHELF. 

Cannon Ball fired by the British at burning of Danbury, April 21, 1777, 
donated by Col. S. Gregory. 

Twelve-ponnd Cannon Ball found amid the ruined barracks many years 
ago by Eli Treadwell of Redding. It came, probably, from the 
foundry in Salisbury, Conn. , where many of the cannon of the con- 
tinental army were cast. Donated by Charles Burr Todd. 

Cannon Ball, donated by Mrs. Charles Kelly. 

Cannon Ball, donated by I. N. Bartram. 

Cannon Ball, a relic of Napoleon's Wars. 

Twelve-pound Ball, donated by Thomas S. Taylor. 

Six-pound Ball found at Turner's Village, Salisbury, Conn. Cast by 
Ethan Allen in Salisbury, at the request of the General Assembly 
of Connecticut. These balls were conveyed to Boston by ox teams, 
and used in the siege of that place in 1775-6. Donated by I. N. 
Bartram. 

Pepper-box Revolver, as first invented, donated by Dr. Porter. 

Pepper-box Revolver, as first invented, donated by Cordy Smith. 

Indian Arrow Heads, donated by George Ives. 

Piece of Wood from Libby Prison, donated by Andrew J. Hughes. 

Powder Horn owned by Henry Knapp in 1775, donated by Col. S. Greg- 
ory. 

Wooden Shoes, worn by French Canadians, donated by Thomas Delaney. 

Soldier's Flask, donated by I. H. Wilson. 

Bark from tree under which Washington sat and smoked, on Litchfield 
Hill, Conn., donated by Mrs. C. H. Hurlbert. 

Gun Bayonet, donated by George Ridge. "Patent Dec. 10, 1812", in 
letters on it. 

Forty-two Ancient Books, donated by different parties. 

Troopers' Helmets, donated by Col. Gregory and Charles Barber. 

Second Shelf, West End. 

Bullets, Grape Shot, Pieces of Bone, etc. , found on the grounds, mostly 

in the fireplaces of the former barracks. 
Gen. Winfield Scott's Army Bit, donated by George Ives. 
Box of Bullets and Grape Shot found on the grounds, donated by Thomas 

Delaney. 
Wood with Bullets imbedded in it, found on the grounds, donated by 

Thomas Delaney. 
Old Gun Barrel, found on grounds, donated by Thomas Delaney. 

West End, Lower Shelf. 
Bricks from Old Bake Oven, north end of grounds. 

At East End. 

Soldiers' Canteens, donated by Captain Eli Stan-, INIessi-s. L. Sherman 

and I. H. Wilson. 
Old Revolutionary Fife found on grounds, made from a gun barrel. 



46 PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 

GROUP OF SWORDS ON NORTH WALL. 

Sword used by Nathan Gregory, sergeant in Revokition, donated by 

Col. Gregory. 
Sword used by Col. John Sedgwick, 1774. He received his commission 

from Governor Jonathan Trumbull, under King George, donated 

by I. N. Bartram. 
Saber carried by Col. Muton of the Louisiana Tigers in the Civil War. 
Carbine captured by Lieut. J. P. Grossman of the 12th Conn. Infantry, 

at Middleton, Va. , and donated by him. 
Sword found in old Robert Stow house, Redding, donated by Thomas 

Delaney. 
Sword used at Fort Wayne, 1812, donated by I. H. Wilson. ^ 

Sword used in Civil War, donated by Walter Edmonds. 
Sword found in old Taylor house. Redding, donated by Thomas Delaney. 
Sword used in Civil War by Lieut. Charles Hurlbut, worn by him in 

the battles of Roanoke Island, N. C, Feb. 8, 1863, and Newbern, 

N. C, March 14, 1862, donated by Mrs. Charles Hurlbut. 
Epaulets worn by Lieut. Charles Hurlbut, donated by Mrs. Charles 

Hurlbut. 
Knapsack worn by Lieut. Charles Hurlbut in the State Militia before 

War, donated by Mrs. Charles Hurlbut. 
Pistol Holster used by Lieut Hurlbut in the Civil War, donated by 

Mrs. Charles Hurlbut. 
Horse Pistol, donated by Thomas Delaney. 
Horse Pistols and Holster, donated by I. H. Wilson. 
Horse Pistols and Holsters, donated by Henry Adams. 
Bridle once the property of Gen. Israel Putnam. Gen. Putnam gave 

it to Joel Barlow, the poet, who gave it to William Couch of Red- 
ding, whose grandson gave it to Mr. E. A. Houseman of Danbury, 

who presented it to the Commission. 
Mortar and Pestle, donated by I. H. Wilson. 
^Nlortar and Pestle, donated by Charles Morehouse. 
Facsimile of Signers of Declaration of Independence, donated hy I. H. 

Wilson. 
Saddlebags, donated by Henry Adams. 
Knapsack, donated by Col. Gregory. 

Confederate Money and Flags, donated by Mrs. M. C. Reade. 
Portrait of Washington, donated by I. H. Wilson. 
Saddle belonging to the family of Gen. Wooster, donated by Mrs. A. N. 

Sharpe. 
Fifth Cavalry Flags, donated by Col. Gregory. 
Kettle used by the British in attack on Danbury, donated by David 

Pierce. 
Wood from French frigate sunk in harbor of Louisbourg, Cape Breton, 

1745, donated by Charles B. Todd. 
Collection of Badges of Sons and Daughters of the Revolution. 
Order Book of the Revolution, donated by Thomas S. Taylor. 
Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Revolution. 

Of the several ancient chairs about the table one is interesting from 
having belonged to Elder Nathan Bulkly, pastor of the First Baptist 
Church, Danbury, from 1800 to 1830. Donated by Mrs. Benj. Turrel. 



At present but one railroad gives access to the camp, the 
Danbury division of the Consolidated. Passengers from New 
York and along the Sound take this road at South Norwalk ; 
those from the north and east by the Highland and Berkshire 
divisions at Danbury. The station nearest to the camp is 
Bethel, which is two miles away by a pleasant and picturesque 
road, the Sherman turnpike, recently opened. In returning 
to Bethel one should go west by this turnpike to L,onetown 
schoolhouse, thence north by main road to Bethel, a diiferent 
route. Carriages can be had of Bethel liverymen. 

Parties wishing to view all the scene of revolutionary inter- 
est in the vicinity should leave the cars at Redding station. 
As you alight. Gallows Hill is seen on the east, a mile away, 
and in front of you. Umpawaug Hill, Putnam's headquarters, 
is a mile west of that. The headquarters house was torn down 
some years ago, and its site is now marked by the residence of 
Mr. Charles A. Hill. The house where Joel Barlow wrote a large 
portion of his epic, "The Vision of Columbus," stands on the 
corner to the right, opposite the mill pond, as one turns to go 
to Umpawaug Hill. The house was then owned by Col. Aaron 
Barlow, his brother, and an intimate friend of Gen. Putnam. 
The milldam before it was built by a company of gentlemen 
organized by Joel Barlow for the purpose of kiln-drying corn 
for export to the West Indies. The quaint old mill built by 
them was unfortunately burned a few years ago. From the 
summit of Gallows Hill you may see on the east a deep valley, 
bed of an affluent of the Saugatuck. In this valley, under 
the hill, perhaps a half mile due east, was placed the second 
camp, the third being about a quarter of a mile north of Redding 
station. Both are marked by a few stone heaps only. A guide 
will be necessary to find either of the last named camps. Red- 




COLONEL AARON BARLOW'S HOUSE, WEST REDDING 
(GoiK-ral Putnam often called on the Colonel when his army was encamped in Reddni^j;. ) 



PUTNAM MEMORIAL CAMP 49 

ding station is about two and one-half miles from the Putnam 
Memorial Camp. The drive thither is by a hilly, wooded, pic- 
turesque road, regarded by many as interesting as the approach 
from Bethel. The road is not so good, however. 

Motorists from Danbury should take the main road to 
Bethel, thence the direct automobile road to Bridgeport via 
Easton which passes by the camp. 

From Bridgeport take the road over Sport Hill to Easton 
and Redding Ridge, thence to the camp, a total distance of 
eighteen miles. 

From Norwalk there is a fine state road to Georgetown, 
thence four miles east to Redding Center by a hilly road, 
thence tw^o miles by a good road to the camp. Or cross over 
to the Redding and Westport pike and come up the valley of 
the foaming and brawling Saugatuck to Redding Center. 




llwSS^ °^ CONGRESS 

PMHi 

011 801 S'7 



